C
ranfills Gap Independent School District is a small prekindergarten through 12th grade school district located in Cranfills Gap, Texas. With one hundred twenty-five plus students enrolled, the district is very stable, both academically and financially. Students and staff are a tight knit family and share a special bond that one might not find at a bigger school district. Senior students know pre-k students. Everyone helps one another to succeed. Nestled in the middle of Texas, students and staff enjoy a picturesque surrounding of the hills, trees, a pond and even cows out their classroom windows. It is a small, tranquil place full of tradition and heritage. Learning is a priority and high expectations are the norm at Cranfills Gap ISD, but it is those traditions and the keeping of the Norwegian heritage that makes Cranfills Gap ISD a “one-of-a-kind” school district. When you walk into the school, you will automatically feel the sense of pride and ownership from students and staff. An event that everyone in the school and the community look forward to is six-man football. If you have never been to a six-man football game, you are really missing out. It is a game of crazy hard hitting and fast! Every team member has to be in tip-top shape in order to run up and down the field at a very quick pace.
Six-man football is played on a smaller field, requires fifteen yards for a first down and allows all offensive players to catch a pass. After a touchdown, a kick is worth two points and a run or pass is worth one point. There are many points scored in a six-man football game. In fact, for that reason, the UIL has a mercy rule to end play when a team leads by at least forty-five points during the second half. This is called “getting 45’d” or “ran off the field”. Each Friday night, whether at home or away, you will witness a standing room only Cranfills Gap Lions crowd. One of the many traditions of the school is the annual Lutefisk dinner. Lutefisk is a Norwegian tradition that is looked forward to every first Saturday in December by not only students, staff and community, but by the visitors who come from far away to join in this celebration. For more than fifty years, the community of Cranfills Gap has come together to support the students at CGISD. This Norwegian tradition is very special to the school. It is a holiday tradition that the Cranfills Gap Lion’s Booster Club began in 1964 to raise money for the students at Cranfills Gap. The authentic Norwegian menu serves 300-500 guests each year. Planning for the Lutefisk Dinner takes months of preparation. Every-
one is involved in some way: students color decorations for the tables, perform Norwegian dances, serve tables, park cars, help set up and clean up. It drives the whole community together for the good of the school. Over the years, this event has put over $260,000 back into the school district. The cod (Lutefisk) arrives to the school towards the end of October in a dried out state. The fish is skinned and for almost a month, it is soaked in tubs of water to rehydrate. Students and staff pitch in to make this event a success. It is a true lesson for students about the Norwegian culture, as well as, how to work with the community as a team. May Fete is an annual tradition each May that features the elementary students performing songs, dances and skits to a chosen theme. The evening begins with the introduction of the May King and Queen who are selected from the senior class by the faculty and staff. This is followed by the “wrapping of the May Pole” by all high school students. This tradition is one that signifies the end of the school year. Each school year is always an exciting year at Cranfills Gap Independent School. Every month is packed full of a lot of learning and a lot of fun with many activities for all students.
Fall 2019 | Our Hometowns 53
